Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) Shares Up 4.4% – Should You Buy?

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) rose 4.4% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $92.95 and last traded at $92.09. 99,503,133 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 17% from the average daily volume of 119,222,078 shares. The stock had previously closed at $88.24.

Trending Headlines about Intel

Here are the key news stories impacting Intel this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong Nvidia outlook lifts chip stocks: Nvidia’s forecast for approximately 70% revenue growth in fiscal 2028 and commentary about sustained AI infrastructure demand helped lift semiconductor shares, including Intel. Why is AMD stock falling while Intel stock rises after Nvidia’s earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: Potential AI infrastructure opportunity: Intel is reportedly making progress in AI infrastructure through a new connection with Advantech, supporting the investment case that Intel can participate in the expansion beyond traditional PC chips. Intel Stock Gains with New Advantech Connection
• Positive Sentiment: Turnaround and valuation appeal: Recent coverage highlighted Intel’s 25% year-over-year quarterly revenue growth, improved cash generation and potential value appeal as investors look for alternative beneficiaries of AI-related demand. Is Intel Back in Focus?
• Neutral Sentiment: Government policy remains a catalyst and risk: Reports of potential broad U.S. tariffs on chips increased speculation that domestic manufacturers such as Intel could receive strategic support, but the policy’s scope and financial impact remain uncertain. Why Is Intel Stock Surging on Thursday?
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and dilution concerns persist: Analysts continue to warn about Intel’s competitive challenges, while the company’s large stock offering to raise capital could dilute existing shareholders and leaves the turnaround dependent on substantial future investment. Simon Leopold Offers Warning

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on INTC shares. Benchmark increased their price target on Intel from $105.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, May 18th. BTIG Research upgraded shares of Intel from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Intel from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. KeyCorp set a $125.00 price objective on Intel in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Intel in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating, thirty-one have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Intel has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $107.46.

Intel Trading Up 4.4%

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $106.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $86.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The stock has a market cap of $464.50 billion, a PE ratio of -43.64 and a beta of 2.22.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The chip maker reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $16.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.43 billion. Intel had a positive return on equity of 2.62% and a negative net margin of 19.79%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 25.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.10) earnings per share. Intel has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.380-0.380 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Intel Corporation will post 1.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Lip Bu Tan purchased 105,263 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $95.00 per share, for a total transaction of $9,999,985.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,314,669 shares in the company, valued at approximately $124,893,555. This represents a 8.70% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intel

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Intel by 271.7% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 34,201 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $766,000 after buying an additional 25,001 shares in the last quarter. United Bank purchased a new position in Intel during the second quarter worth about $205,000. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its stake in Intel by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 13,737 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 1,508 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in Intel by 29.6% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 158,277 shares of the chip maker’s stock worth $3,545,000 after acquiring an additional 36,116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Intel by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 828,352 shares of the chip maker’s stock valued at $18,556,000 after acquiring an additional 74,838 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.53% of the company’s stock.

Intel Company Profile

Intel Corporation, founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon E. Moore and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of semiconductor products. The company is historically notable for introducing the first commercial microprocessor and for driving the x86 architecture that underpins many personal computers and servers. Intel’s core business spans the design, fabrication and marketing of processors, chipsets and related components for a wide range of computing applications.

Intel’s product portfolio includes client and mobile processors marketed under brands such as Intel Core and Pentium, as well as high-performance Xeon processors for data centers and cloud infrastructure.